Allen races his way to sensational second
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 9 August 2025
Behind the dominant Broc Feeney, Kai Allen put on the latest show of his growing rookie campaign to match his career-best result.
Starting eighth, Allen flew across the opening laps with some gutsy moves in mixed conditions, seeing him soar to second.
The Grove Racing teenager already showcased his wet-weather skills honed from dirt karting in Mount Gambier at Albert Park, but they came to the fore in Race 23.
Allen’s third career podium was arguably his hardest-fought as he led the charge for a red-letter day for the rookies.
Not only did Allen match his career best, but fellow first-timers Cooper Murray (sixth) and Aaron Cameron (10th) also secured personal bests.
Allen was delighted to return to the rostrum and complete the youngest ever alongside Feeney and Ryan Wood.
“I said you would be dreaming,” he said when asked if he thought a podium was possible.
“But anything is possible and I knew the inside row would be disadvantaged because it is quite wet.
“I just kept it cool, picking my way through the cars, and we went on our way.
“As soon as I got a good start, we had some momentum and needed to make good use of it.
“There were cars going everywhere, but it was a lot of fun. It was unreal.”
The move that set up the runner-up finish for Allen was at the end of the opening lap.
Having already surged from eighth to fourth, he passed Will Brown and Ryan Wood at either end of the pit straight.
After pouncing on Brown running wide at the final turn, he sensed an opportunity to pounce on Wood when he hit a puddle, suffered some wheelspin and struggled on corner exit.
Despite Wood running the Grove Racing driver right to the edge, the WAU driver left his rival enough room and the Blue Lake boy did not back out and stole second.
Allen had no dramas with Wood’s well-judged move and loved the racing.
“I saw Will was wide so I stopped it hard in the middle of the corner to make sure I did not do the same,” Allen explained.
“I did not expect to get Woody and it was not until I got a run out of the final corner where I thought I was going to have a crack because I had a little bit of overlap at his bumper.
“I knew I could not back out because I had a lot of room on the inside and even if I got to the white line I would be at his wheel.
“He did not make it easy for me, but it was good, hard, racing.
“I knew I had enough overlap and was pretty confident. He wasn’t coming across aggressively and was just creeping across.
“I trusted Ryan with his race craft and that was a prime example.”
After strategy, tyre management and strong moves secured back-to-back podiums in Darwin, Allen had to show his more aggressive side to get more silverware at Ipswich.
Whilst a repeat result will be harder from 17th in the following sprint this afternoon, Allen has already shown enough he is quickly growing into a star.
Image: DMAC Photography
2025 Ipswich Super440 (All Times AEST)
Friday 8 August
Practice 1 – 1: Broc Feeney 1:09.2078 2: Anton De Pasquale +0.1965 3: Cameron Hill +0.2271
Practice 2 – 1: Will Brown 1:08.4927 2: Broc Feeney +0.1419 3: Ryan Wood +0.2088
Saturday 9 August
Qualifying Race 23: 1 Broc Feeney 1:08.1301 2 Will Brown +0.1119 3 Ryan Wood +0.1866
Qualifying Race 24: 1 Broc Feeney 1:19.8014 2 Ryan Wood +0.4782 3 Will Brown +0.9097
12:45pm, Race 23 – 39 laps (120 km)
4:10pm, Race 24 – 39 laps (120 km)
Sunday 10 August
10:20am, Qualifying Part 1 – Race 25 (10 mins)
10:40am, Qualifying Part 2 – Race 25 (10 mins)
11:40am, Qualifying Part 3 – Race 25 Top Ten Shootout (30 mins)
3:15pm, Race 25 – 63 laps (200 km)
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